A photo from another southeastern city, Van, showed soldiers standing over ballot boxes, an illegal procedure. A video also showed a pro-Erdogan village chief entering voting cubicles with voters and checking their votes.

Casting his vote in Istanbul, Turkey’s President Erdogan, who hopes a ‘Yes’ vote will bolster his powers said the vote was not an ordinary one.

“There have been many referendums in the history of our republic, but this is for the choice of a new system of government, change and transformation.”

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu speaking to journalists in Istanbul said, “We carried an extremely beautiful campaign. We embraced all citizens and did not exclude anyone. We are voting on the fate of Turkey.”

According to pollsters the result of the referendum is expected to be very close.